This is one man, aged 30, who claims his life went awry after taking Propecia to treat his hair loss.

In May, he protested for more than a week outside the headquarters of Merck & Co, in the United States, because of what he said was the company’s failure to acknowledge Propecia’s long-lasting side effects.

For the protest he used the pseudonym of Kevin Malley and does not want his real name disclosed. Last year, he says, he consulted his doctor about hair loss and was prescribed Propecia. He stopped taking it after five months because he was suffering debilitating sexual side effects.

At the time of his hunger strike, it was eight months since he quit and his sexual dysfunction was still unresolved.

He also claimed to be suffering severe memory loss and disorientation which had led him to resign his job as a public health researcher at a university in Las Vegas. In addition, he said, his engagement had been broken off due to fears his dysfunction could be permanent.